Three people are in custody after a man was carjacked at gunpoint in the Loop on Tuesday evening, according to Chicago police. Another hijacking that occurred near Goose Island around the same time remains unsolved.
The first carjacking was reported at 6:27 p.m. in the 1400 block of West Division. A CPD spokesperson said a 42-year-old man was confronted by a gunman who demanded his vehicle moments after he parked it in an alley lot.
Three more men surrounded the victim’s vehicle as he exited the black Ford Escape. The foursome climbed into the car and drove away. No arrests have been made, the CPD spokesperson said.
Then, around 6:54 p.m., three hijackers confronted a man after he parked his gray Buick Encore in the 500 block of South Federal. One of the carjackers displayed a gun and ordered the man out of his car.
The crew took the man’s property, then drove away with his car.
A multi-jurisdictional hijacking task force tracked the hijacked Buick to a gas station in the 7000 block of South Damen, and three people were taken into custody, including two 17-year-old boys who are charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking, robbery, and other counts. The police spokesperson said charges are still pending against a third person.
Carjacking reports in Chicago are beginning to fall behind last year’s record pace. The city had 125 hijackings in October, down from 194 during the same month last year, which was the fifth-worst month for hijackings in the city this millennium.
Last November was the fourth-worst, and last December was the third-worst.
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